The main problem with using any caliber other than 12 gauge for a defensive shotgun is the lack of modern tactical loads. The 12-gauge shotgun and the ammo made to feed it rules the roost, so it gets the most attention. But the 20-gauge has always been a lower-recoil alternative and still a very capable defensive firearm.
Now Federal has decided to spread their FliteControl gospel to the 20 gauge. Are these 20 gauge loads with Federal’s FliteControl wads worth the squeeze?
They first showed these 20 gauge loads in 2024, but finding it on store shelves and retailers’ websites has been difficult. Luckily, in 2025, we’re finally seeing it hit the shelves, and I immediately purchased five boxes (MSRP = $12.99, retail about $10.50). I don’t use the 20 gauge personally for home defense, but I have an insatiable shotshell curiosity.
Breaking Down The Load
The 20-gauge Federal Premium Personal Defense rounds pack ten number 2 buck pellets into its FliteControl wads. I know the guys at Federal do a fair bit of testing regarding their loads. They discontinued the Number 1 Flitecontrol due to its inconsistent performance. They take their jobs seriously and are bona fide ballistic nerds. If you want to learn a lot about cartridge production and performance, talk to Federal’s guys at the SHOT Show.
I say all this because I’m a big-mouthed gun writer and not a ballistician. But I’m going to use my big mouth. I think they should have gone with Number 1 pellets. Specifically, an eight-pellet load. You can fit nine in there, but I’d hope eight would produce the consistency of my favorite eight-pellet 00 buckshot load. I want number 1 because it tends to penetrate deeper and more consistently than other smaller pellets.
That load moves at 1,325 feet per second, arguably taking it out of the low recoil range. From my observations, lower recoil buckshot patterns better better regardless of the wad. I’m curious if the extra velocity is to help the smaller, lighter pellets penetrate more and do so consistently.
More velocity creates more recoil and could also generate wider patterns. Right off the bat, I was a little suspicious of the load. All I can do as a big-mouth gun writer is go out and shoot the damned thing.
At the Range
The goal of FliteControl loads is to create a tighter-patterning round that allows you to extend your range and, more importantly, be more accountable for your pellets. The FliteControl wad has changed shotguns for the better and, to me, makes a lot of sense for home defense use. There are times when you want a little spread, but in a home defense situation, tighter is almost always better.
I patterned the cartridge at three distances. We started at seven yards, moved to ten, and finally out to fifteen. Seven and ten yards are about the max you’d ever shoot inside a home, so fifteen was just to see, more or less. I used IPSC-sized A-zones or something close to IPSC-sized targets. They’re big rectangles that are a little smaller than 11 inches high and six inches wide.
At seven yards, the pattern is quite tight, but it looks a bit tighter at ten yards. I repeated this test more than once to confirm, and the difference comes down to where the wad hits. The pellets all hit very closely together and pattern quite nicely.
At 15 yards, we see the pattern opening up, but it’s still working brilliantly. These loads are designed for a cylinder bore, and using a tighter choke could disrupt the wad and, therefore, those tight patterns.
The recoil, however, is snappier than I’d like. Sure, I can man-handle it fine, but defensive 20-gauge shotguns are typically used by shooters who want less recoil. In fact, the 20-gauge Federal Premium with FliteControl wads recoils significantly more than the 12-gauge 1,145 feet per second loads. The 12-gauge shotgun tends to be heavier, which helps a bit. Ultimately, though, you’re losing the advantage of lower recoil and only keeping the lighter gun.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the load works as advertised. It patterns very tightly, and that’s what we want from FliteControl. However, I think it could be better. I wouldn’t mind fewer pellets for more penetration. I might homebrew a No. 1 load, give it a spin with the FliteControl wads, and see how it works.
I’d also prefer a lower recoil impulse. Something in that 1,145 feet per second range would preserve the usually lower recoil of 20 gauge loads, and with a heavier projectile, it wouldn’t depend on that faster velocity.
While it’s good and very likely the best 20-gauge personal defense round on the market, I think it could be better.
i wound up favoring 16 for the field and wanting 20 for the home.